Professor Karen Walker-Bone trained originally in Medicine at Southampton University Medical School, UK, graduating in 1991. As a medical student, she undertook a project with Professor David Barker and Professor Catherine Law investigating growth in early life in relation to birthweight in the MRC Environmental Epidemiology Unit. Once qualified, she chose to specialise in Rheumatology and was awarded a prestigious Arthritis Research UK (now Versus Arthritis) fellowship to do her PhD 1999-2002 about the epidemiology of neck and upper limb disorders in working aged adults and from there developed a particular interest in the relationship between work and health. Between 2013-2021, she was an MRC Investigator, Leader of an MRC Programme on Work and Health and Director of the MRC Versus Arthritis Centre for Musculoskeletal Health and Work. Karen migrated to Australia in December 2022 to take up her new role as Professor of Occupational Rheumatology and Director of the Monash Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health. Her research focuses on health in the workplace and she has broader interests in promoting health at work; mental health and work; women in the workplace and older workers. In 2024, Karen took over from Professor Michael Abramson as Principal Investigator for the Hazelwood Health Study, to lead the study through the final year of its initial 10-year research program and to spearhead negotiations for the continuation of the study.
Dr Matthew Carroll is the Co-Principal Investigator and is responsible for the Gippsland components of the study. Dr Matthew Carroll is a Senior Research Fellow within the Monash School of Rural Health and is based at Churchill, in the Latrobe Valley. Dr Carroll has been involved in the study from its inception, and leads the Psychological Impacts stream as well as being involved in other stream activities. As well as being one of the leaders of the Hazelwood Health Study, Dr Carroll is the National Convenor for the Emerging Researchers in Ageing initiative. With the other members of the Hazelwood Health Study Management Group, Dr Carroll is the recipient of the 2017 Dean's Award for Excellence in Research Impact (Economic and Social Impact) and the Dean's nominee for the Vice Chancellor's 2017 Research Impact Award. Dr Carroll took over the role of Hazelwood Co-Principal Investigator from Professor Judi Walker, who retired from Monash in 2020.
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Professor Michael Abramson was the Previous Principal Investigator for the study and is Professor of Clinical Epidemiology at Monash University. He obtained his PhD from the University of Newcastle for research on occupational asthma. His current research program covers the epidemiology of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, including genetic and environmental risk factors such as smoking, air pollution and occupation. This work has been supported by the National Health & Medical Research Council (NHMRC), Australian Research Council, Department of Health, Victorian Health Promotion Foundation, Australian Lung Foundation and Asthma Victoria. He is a Chief Investigator on the NHMRC funded Centre for Air Quality & Health Research and Evaluation (CAR). He undertook a consultancy on ambient air quality standards for NHMRC and the enHealth Council. He teaches epidemiology and Evidence Based Clinical Practice to medical students, postgraduate Clinical Epidemiology and units in the Doctor of Public Health at Monash University. He has received the Research Medal of the Thoracic Society of Australia & New Zealand, a Community Service Award from the Asthma Foundation of Victoria and a National Research Award from Asthma Australia. He has received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Lung Foundation Australia